MACC using $118K iPad lab purchases to aid communities

The Moberly Area Community College Board of Trustees approved the spending of over $118,000 to upgraded technology equipment during their regular meeting Monday night (Aug. 26).

MACC President Dr. Jeff Lashley told the MMI on Tuesday morning (Aug. 27), following the meeting, that the purchases were made to update the college system's mobile iPad labs.

A total of 150 iPads were purchased with the funds, along with five store-and-charge stations and five Macbook Pros.

The total cost came to $118,609.75. Lashley noted that the moneys used for the technology purchases came through a Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant of $6.6 million split amongst seven partner colleges in the area (Jefferson College, Metropolitan Community College, Mineral Area College, MACC, Ozarks Technical Community College, St. Louis Community College, and Three Rivers Community College).

Lashley said that "with the advent of iPads and tablets," MACC began offering free public computer training at five of the college system's public computer centers over a year ago.

This program is called "Discover Technology." It offers, as per the MACC website, "16 hours of free computer training" — a total of eight two-hour classes — "to any person in our communities, including...MACC students."